The Threshold Moment: When Heaven and Healing Meet
I want to tell you about something that’s hard to explain but matters.
When you go through a stroke, a near-death experience, or any trauma, you’re not just sick or injured. You’re standing in a doorway — a threshold. You’re not fully in the old life, and you’re not fully in the new one yet. You’re somewhere in between.
When I had my brainstem stroke, they couldn’t give me clot-busting drugs. I was left alone to see if my body would keep shutting down. I felt like I was floating in clouds, warm, safe, like my loved ones who had passed were right there. I don’t know if it was angels or my brain doing something — maybe both. But it felt like heaven was close. Beautiful. Peaceful.
Coming back from that place is hard. You see life differently. You’re more open, more sensitive, sometimes more emotional. You can feel crazy because nobody around you understands. But this isn’t you losing your mind. It’s your brain and soul trying to adjust to being alive again. Science calls it “liminality” or “threshold states.” Faith traditions call it “the gate” or “the veil.” Either way, it’s real.
That’s why recovery isn’t just about physical therapy or pills. It’s about learning to walk back through the doorway and live again. It’s about finding people who will sit with you and listen. People who won’t call you crazy because you felt God, or because you’re different now. It’s about finding hope in the middle of the weirdness.
If you’re reading this and you’ve been through something like that, you’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re standing in the doorway between what was and what’s next. That’s a holy place. It’s scary, but it’s also where healing starts.
My hope is that Hope After Stroke can be a place where we talk about this openly. Not just about our bodies, but about our souls. Where we help each other step through the threshold and into life again.
— Geoffrey
The Fast Lane and the Traffic Jam
Imagine your brain as a busy highway. Inside your mind, everything still works — ideas, memories, emotions — all racing smoothly down the fast lane at full speed. You’re still you: intelligent, aware, creative, and thinking faster than ever.
But after a brain injury or stroke, something happens between your thoughts and your ability to express them. It’s like there’s a massive traffic jam at the exit. You can see where you want to go. You can feel every idea waiting to come out. But trying to speak it, write it, or move it — it’s like being stuck behind an accident on the road.
The frustration builds, not because your thoughts are gone, but because they’re trapped behind the bottleneck. And when people don’t understand — when they rush you, interrupt you, or assume you’re “not all there” — it makes that traffic jam even worse.
What survivors need most is patience. Every word, every gesture, every breakthrough is a car slowly making it through that jam. And with time, support, and love, the road begins to clear.
In Summation
“Inside my mind, everything still races in the fast lane. But getting it out feels like being stuck in traffic after a crash — every word fighting to move forward.”
Be the Baby Again
When I watched my niece while laying in bed, paralyzed on my right side, something clicked deep inside me.
She was a baby — trying to crawl, scoot, roll over, pull herself up, stand, walk, feed herself, grab things. Every second she was awake, she was working.
And I realized: that’s exactly what recovery is supposed to look like.
Babies don’t need motivation. They don’t overthink it. They just go — nonstop — until their body learns what their mind already wants. Then they sleep, recharge, and do it again.
Everyone told me to rest, to take it slow, but I started seeing it differently.
After paralysis, we’re not weak — we’re newborns. We’ve still got neuroplasticity, the same miracle wiring that lets babies learn everything from scratch.
The only difference? They don’t know how to use their hands or legs yet.
We do. Our brains just need to remember.
And that’s not going to happen from three hours of therapy a week.
It happens every waking moment.
When you move your fingers, speak a word, focus your eyes, stretch, breathe — that’s therapy.
So I stopped thinking like a patient and started thinking like a baby.
Work, rest, sleep, repeat.
Let your brain do what it was built to do — heal, adapt, rewire.
And here’s the best part — you’ll know when you’re done for the day.
Your body will tell you.
When it does, listen.
You’ll fall into the deepest, most restorative sleep you’ve ever felt — not the sleep of exhaustion, but the sleep of healing. That’s your brain thanking you, rebuilding you, and preparing you for another day of progress.
THE PATCH, STITCH, AND BRIDGE MODEL
After my stroke, it felt like half my wiring got fried. Messages still tried to move through, but some lanes were gone. So I started thinking — what if the body already has a crew that shows up with patch kits?
That’s what these CB1 and CB2 systems are like. CB1 is the traffic controller, slowing down chaos so signals can find a safe route. CB2 is the repair crew, cleaning up the mess and laying new lines.
The cannabinoids — THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN — are the tools and materials that help those crews do their job. Each one brings something different to the table:
THC can relax the body and open tight, spastic muscles.
CBD calms the storm and balances the system.
CBG keeps things clear and steady during the day.
CBC adds deep inflammation control.
CBN steps in at night to help the body rest and rebuild while you sleep.
Little by little, those patches turn into stitches, the stitches into a cast, and the cast becomes a bridge — one strong enough to carry life back across.
Because healing isn’t magic. It’s work, chemistry, faith, and time — all moving together through the systems God already built inside us. The body knows how to repair; we just have to give it the right tools, the right care, and the patience to let the bridge form.
Structure for “The Endocannabinoid System & Brain Repair”
SECTION 1: The Healing Network Within — Overview of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The ECS is a built-in communication and balance system that keeps the body and brain in harmony.
It uses two main receptors — CB1 and CB2 — that act like signal routers and repair managers.
It influences pain, mood, inflammation, sleep, muscle tone, and neuroplasticity — all central to recovery.
Add a small diagram or animation showing CB1 (brain/spinal cord) and CB2 (immune/peripheral).
SECTION 2: CB1 Receptors — The Brain’s Traffic Controller
Where:
Mostly in the brain and spinal cord
What they do:
Control neurotransmitter release (dopamine, GABA, glutamate, serotonin)
Balance mood, movement, pain, and learning
Prevent “over-firing” and stress overload after injury
Why it matters in stroke recovery:
Helps calm excitotoxicity — when damaged neurons over-fire and burn out.
Keeps brain activity smooth so new neural pathways can form.
SECTION 3: CB2 Receptors — The Body’s Repair Crew
Where:
Immune cells, microglia, gut, organs, and some brain regions
What they do:
Regulate inflammation
Direct immune cells to clean up damaged tissue
Release anti-inflammatory molecules (IL-10, etc.)
Support new tissue growth and protection
Why it matters:
Reduces chronic inflammation that blocks neuroplasticity
Protects surviving neurons and promotes microglial balance
SECTION 4 — CANNABINOIDS AND THE BODY’S BUILT-IN REPAIR SYSTEM
THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM (ECS)
The ECS is the body’s natural network for keeping balance. It connects the brain, nerves, immune system, and gut. It works mainly through two receptor types:
• CB1 – mostly in the brain and spinal cord; controls signal flow, movement, pain, and mood.
• CB2 – mostly in immune and repair cells; calms inflammation and promotes healing.
After a stroke or other injury, this system helps quiet over-firing neurons (CB1) and reduce inflammation (CB2), giving the brain a better chance to rebuild communication pathways.
KEY CANNABINOIDS AND WHAT THEY DO
THC (Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)
• Main action: Strong CB1 agonist, moderate CB2 activity.
• Effects: Mimics the body’s endocannabinoids. Can reduce pain and spasticity, stimulate appetite, and at low doses may encourage neuroplasticity. High doses can impair short-term memory or coordination.
• Why it matters: May relax muscle tone and support recovery when used carefully.
• Psychoactive: Yes – dose dependent.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
• Main action: Indirect CB1 modulator and light CB2 activator; also acts on serotonin (5-HT1A), TRPV1, and PPAR-γ.
• Effects: Calms neural overactivity, lowers inflammation, protects neurons, supports BDNF (brain growth factor). Balances THC’s psychoactive effect.
• Psychoactive: No.
CBG (Cannabigerol)
• Main action: Mild CB1 and CB2 agonist.
• Effects: Anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, helps focus and alertness.
• Psychoactive: No.
CBC (Cannabichromene)
• Main action: Prefers CB2 and activates pain receptors (TRP channels).
• Effects: Anti-pain, anti-inflammatory, may support new neuron growth.
• Psychoactive: No.
CBN (Cannabinol)
• Main action: Weak/partial activity at CB1 and CB2; lower potency than THC.
• Effects: Gentle relaxation and possible sleep support; early evidence for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Most sedation reports are stronger when CBN is combined with THC and/or sedating terpenes (like myrcene or linalool).
• Why it matters: May help nighttime rest and reduce nighttime discomfort without a strong “high.”
• Psychoactive: Minimally psychoactive at typical doses; higher doses can feel mildly intoxicating.
THCA and CBDA (acidic forms of THC and CBD)
• Main action: Minimal direct CB1 binding; work through enzyme and pain pathways.
• Effects: Anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, antioxidant; useful for sensitive patients.
• Psychoactive: No in acidic form.
β-Caryophyllene (terpene in black pepper and clove)
• Main action: Direct CB2 agonist.
• Effects: Food-grade anti-inflammatory; strengthens CB2 repair response.
• Psychoactive: No.
HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER
• THC + CBD – CBD tempers THC’s “high” and extends therapeutic effects for pain, spasticity, and sleep.
• CBD + CBG – Calm plus clarity; good daytime combination.
• CBD + CBC – Calming with deeper anti-inflammatory relief.
• CBD + CBN – Nighttime pairing for sleep and gentle pain relief; usually non-intoxicating at modest doses.
• Low-dose THC + CBN – Can be sedating; useful for sleep but may cause grogginess in the morning.
• β-Caryophyllene – Enhances CB2 “repair crew” activity without mood change.
Note: Low-dose THC can aid some stroke survivors by relaxing muscles and stimulating appetite, but higher doses may slow cognitive recovery — medical guidance is important, especially with balance or fall risk.
SCIENCE SNAPSHOT
Cannabinoids have been shown to:
• Limit excitotoxicity (when neurons over-fire after a stroke) through CB1.
• Reduce neuroinflammation via CB2 on microglia.
• Increase neurotrophic factors (BDNF and NGF) for neuron growth.
• Improve sleep and mood, both key for retraining the brain.
They do not replace rehab, but they can support it from the inside out.
PRACTICAL NOTES
• Start low and increase slowly, especially with THC and CBN at night.
• Consistency matters; steady daily use often works better than sporadic use.
• Watch for next-day grogginess with sedating blends; adjust timing and dose.
• Always discuss with your clinician if you take anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, sedatives, or have liver disease. Avoid driving until you know your response.
TAKEAWAY
The body was designed to heal. The ECS is one of its original repair systems. When used responsibly and under guidance, cannabinoids can help calm the storm, lower inflammation, improve sleep, and give the brain the space and fuel it needs to reconnect — one patch, one stitch, one bridge at a time.
SECTION 5: How It All Works Together — “The Patch, Stitch, and Bridge” Model
When a stroke or injury damages the brainstem or neural pathways, it’s like a bridge where some lanes are broken.
The body still tries to send signals, but traffic jams build up — pain, spasticity, confusion, anxiety.
The CB1 and CB2 systems act like repair crews and traffic engineers:
CB1 slows down the over-firing, rerouting traffic safely.
CB2 brings in repair materials — calming inflammation, clearing debris, and rebuilding tissue.
Cannabinoids like CBD and CBG are like the fuel or patch materials that help the body’s own crews work faster and smarter.
You can illustrate this with a visual of:
a broken bridge (brainstem)
workers (CB1/CB2) repairing and redirecting signals
vehicles (neurotransmitters) moving again smoothly
SECTION 6: Science Meets Hope:
Healing isn’t magic — it’s biology and faith working together.
Your brain was built with tools for repair.
The ECS is one of those tools — a living reminder that the body was designed to heal itself when given the right support, time, and environment.
SECTION 7: Doctor’s Corner
> “Emerging research supports endocannabinoid modulation for post-stroke recovery. CB1 and CB2 receptor systems may facilitate neuroprotection, neurogenesis, and reduced inflammation in ischemic injury models.”
— Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2021
USING CANNABINOIDS RESPONSIBLY — FINDING YOUR OWN BALANCE
We’re not doctors, and we don’t sell or prescribe anything here. What we share comes from lived experience, research, and recovery — not from profit or hype.
Cannabinoids are medicine, not toys. They’re tools meant to help the body heal. When used with respect, they can reduce pain, inflammation, stress, and help the brain reconnect. When abused or used carelessly, they can set you back.
Everyone’s body chemistry is different. What helps one stroke survivor focus or rest might make another anxious or drowsy. There’s no one-size-fits-all. You have to experiment slowly and safely, ideally with a doctor who understands both cannabis and neuro recovery.
---
OUR APPROACH: DAY-TO-NIGHT BALANCE
Below is an example routine, not a prescription — just how some of us have found balance using a mix of psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids through the day.
Morning (Focus and Calm)
Goal: Wake the brain gently, reduce inflammation, encourage clarity.
Example:
• CBD + CBC (liquid, from Neurogen) for calm focus and pain control.
• Optional: CBG micro-dose for alertness and neuroprotection.
• Hydrate well and move — breathing, stretching, light exercise help ECS activation.
Mid-Afternoon (Sustain and Repair)
Goal: Keep inflammation low and mind steady during rehab or activity.
Example:
• CBD + CBG combo gummy (Neurogen or equivalent).
• Optional: Small amount of β-Caryophyllene (pepper or clove oil) for CB2 support.
• Avoid high THC here — it can cause fatigue or brain fog.
Evening (Rest and Rebuild)
Goal: Ease tension, support sleep, allow neuroplasticity to take hold.
Example:
• CBD + CBN (tincture or softgel) for relaxation and muscle release.
• Add THC if medically available — small enough to relax.
• Pair with quiet music, gratitude, and rest — this is when repair happens.
Reserve THC until late afternoon or evening AFTER all therapies are completed for the day.
---
DISCLAIMER AND GUIDANCE
• Always start low and go slow, especially with THC or CBN.
• Non-psychoactive cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBC, β-Caryophyllene) can be used safely throughout the day.
• Psychoactive THC has its place — usually in small amounts at night for muscle tone, appetite, or pain.
• Use it as a tool, not an escape. You’re not getting high — you’re helping your body heal.
---
WHY WE SHARE THIS
We’ve learned that recovery isn’t just therapy and willpower — it’s chemistry, rest, and hope working together.
You can rebuild your bridge, one system at a time. The cannabinoids don’t do it for you — they help your body do what it was designed to do.
RECOMMEND BRANDS AND PRODUCTS
Non Psychoactive CANNABINOIDS
Neurogen CBC Oil
Neurogen CBG Oil, Gummy, Tincture Oil or Isolate
Neurogen CBN Oil, Gummy, Capsule, Tablet, Tincture
Neurogen CBD in any Form available
Neurogen Combination CBD w/CBG, CBN or CBC
Recommended Psychoactive THC Products..
Wyld Natural Fruit Gummies
Wyld Blood Orange THC/CBC SATIVA
Wyld Grapefruit THC/CBG/CBC SATIVA
Wyld Kiwi THC/THCv SATIVA
Wyld Peach THC/CBD HYBRID
Wyld Pear THC/CBG HYBRID
Wyld Pomegranate THC/CBD HYBRID
Wyld Boysenberry THC/CBD/CBN INDICA
Wyld Elderberry THC/CBN INDICA
Above are just our recommendations, you can use as a base guideline.